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HomeMy WebLinkAbout09-20-17 JDA Agenda PacketAGENDA Wednesday, September 20, 2017 5:30 p.m. Arden Hills City Hall—Council Chambers 1. Roll Call 2. Approval of Agenda 3. Approval of Minutes a. 8/7/2017 JDA Meeting 4. Public Inquiries/Informational a. The intent of the Public Inquiries/Informational part of the agenda is to provide interested parties with an opportunity to speak to the JDA about an issue or concern about a past or future agenda item. The current agenda for tonight's meeting is structured to ensure that the JDA accomplishes their business within that agenda. If there is a public hearing scheduled as an agenda item, the public will be invited to speak to that agenda item. In addressing the JDA, please state your name and address for the record, and a brief summary of the specific matter being addressed. To allow adequate time for each person wishing to address the JDA, individuals should limit their comments to three (3) minutes. Written documents may be distributed to the JDA prior to the meeting, or as bench copies, to allow a more timely presentation. 5. Consent Agenda 6. Old Business a. Master Developer Agreement Update 7. Public Hearing a. None 8. New Business a. Amazon HQ2 9. Communications – See attached memo. 10. Development Director Update – Verbal. 11. Administrative Director’s Report – Verbal. 12. Commissioner Updates 13. Adjournment Joint Development Authority TCAAP Redevelopment Project Joint Development Authority Monday, August 7, 2017 Arden Hills City Council Chambers Minutes 5:30 pm Present: Joint Development Authority: Chair Jonathan Wicklund, Commissioner Blake Huffman, Commissioner Dave McClung, Commissioner David Grant, Commissioner Rafael Ortega Also present: Josh Olson (Ramsey County), David Perrault (Arden Hills); Heather Worthington, (Ramsey County) Roll call taken. Approval of Agenda Motion by Commissioner Grant seconded by Commissioner Huffman to approve the agenda as presented. Motion carried. Approval of June 21, 2017 Minutes Motion by Commissioner Grant seconded by Commissioner Ortega to approve the minutes as presented. Motion carried. Public Inquiries/Informational Dave Smeel, 1861 West Highway 96, thanked the JDA for having some landscaping done at the corner of Highway 96 and Highway 10. He commented on the LED lights at this intersection and requested this lighting not be directed into his neighborhood. He stated he brought this concern to the City two and a half years ago and requested this concern be addressed. Consent Agenda None Old Business Master Developer Agreement Update Ramsey County Deputy County Manager Worthington provided the JDA with a brief update on the recent negotiations with the master developer. She stated back on July 31st the Governor signed the FAUCET which would allow the County to close on the final 30 acres of property. This would trigger both parties (the JDA and the developer) to execute engineering contracts. Ms. Worthington explained both parties have determined the unknown outcome of the optimization study by the US Army will negatively influence the construction schedule for infrastructure and grading onsite. At this point, the County feels it would be prudent to pause the expenditure of planning and engineering dollars. Staff was not recommending further amendments to the PDA. Ms. Worthington reported from July 31st, Alatus, the County and the JDA have 75 days to negotiate a Master Development Agreement. It was noted contracts will not be pursued with perspective engineer firms. At this time, there was a one year delay in the construction schedule. If progress was not made within the 75 day time period, the PDA could be extinguished by either party. She stated the County Manager would be assigning a lead negotiator in her place. Ms. Worthington commented she has accepted a position with the City of Minneapolis and her last day with the County would be August 18th. She stated the County would be in touch with the JDA when this appointment is made. It was noted Josh Olson would continue in his role with the County and JDA. Commissioner Grant asked if the delay would go beyond 2018. Administrative Director Worthington was uncertain and noted the County would know more after the optimization study was completed in August. She indicated staff would report back to the JDA with further information. Commissioner McClung questioned if the optimization study would actually be done in August. Administrative Director Worthington stated this was the most recent information she had and noted the information would be available by the end of August. She explained that as soon as a draft report was available she would be forwarding this to the JDA. Commissioner Grant commented on the positive progress that was being made on the thumb property. He asked if the thumb property would be delayed with the remainder of the project. Administrative Director Worthington stated this would be determined by the County and if they wanted to sell of this portion separate from the entire acreage. She indicated the thumb property would be ready this fall. Public Hearing None New Business None Communications Administrative Director Olson noted a communications memo from staff. Development Director’s Report There was no report. Administrative Director’s Report Administrative Director Olson provided the JDA with an update on the progress being made with County Road H and County Road I. It was noted the road between County Road H and County Road I would be open in September. In addition, the roundabout would be open this season. Commissioner Updates Chair Wicklund requested the County investigate the lighting at the intersection of Highway 96 and Highway 10. Commissioner Grant suggested the lighting under the bridge also be investigated as it was spilling over into the neighborhood. Future Meeting Schedule The next meeting will be Wednesday, August 16, 2017, at Arden Hills City Hall. Meeting adjourned at 5:51 pm. Approved _____________________________________ _______________________ Jonathan Wicklund, Chair Date Page 1 of 1 Joint Development Authority TCAAP Redevelopment Project DATE: September 13, 2017 TO: Joint Development Authority Board of Commissioners FROM: Administrators Olson and Joynes SUBJECT: Master Development Agreement Update TCAAP Joint Development Authority Staff will provide an update on the Master Development Agreement with Alatus Arden Hills LLC. AGENDA ITEM 6a MEMORANDUM Page 1 of 1 Joint Development Authority TCAAP Redevelopment Project DATE: September 20, 2017 TO: Joint Development Authority Board of Commissioners FROM: Administrators Olson and Joynes SUBJECT: Amazon HQ2 TCAAP Joint Development Authority Staff will provide an update on the Amazon HQ2 announcement. Attachments: Amazon HQ2 RFP Greater MSP Announcement AGENDA ITEM 8a MEMORANDUM Amazon HQ2 RFP INSTRUCTIONS TO RESPONDENTS Amazon invites you to submit a response to this Request for Proposal (“RFP”) in conjunction with and on behalf of your metropolitan statistical area (MSA), state/province, county, city and the relevant localities therein. Amazon is performing a competitive site selection process and is considering metro regions in North America for its second corporate headquarters. We encourage states, provinces and metro areas to coordinate with relevant jurisdictions to submit one (1) RFP for your MSA. The RFP may contain multiple real estate sites in more than one jurisdiction, but we do encourage you to submit your best sites to meet or exceed the needs of our Project described in this RFP. Any questions regarding the information or items requested in this document can be submitted using the email below. We encourage you to go through the process as outlined in the RFP and ask questions of the team using the email provided below. PROPOSAL REQUIREMENTS Please provide an electronic copy and five (5) hard copies of your responses by October 19, 2017 to amazonhq2@amazon.com. Please send hard copies marked “confidential” between the dates of October 16th – 19th to: Amazon Office of Economic Development c/o Site Manager Golden 2121 7th Ave Seattle, WA 98121 For electronic submittals, please send a password-protected website URL or a USB only. If using a password-protected website, the submitting agency should also submit written responses to the RFP questions (Information Requested section). TIMELINE September 7, 2017 RFP Phase I Available October 19, 2017 RFP Phase I Response Deadline 2018 Final Site Selection and Announcement 1 OVERVIEW Background: The purpose of this RFP is to describe the Project and provide a framework for soliciting specific information that will allow Amazon to determine the ideal location for our Project. The Project is a second corporate headquarters (HQ2), at which Amazon will hire as many as fifty thousand (50,000) new full-time employees with an average annual total compensation exceeding one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000) over the next ten to fifteen years, following commencement of operations. The Project is expected to have over $5 billion in capital expenditures as described in more detail in this RFP. Amazon is a publicly traded U.S. corporation and is a leading internet retailer and technology company. Amazon is guided by four principles: customer obsession rather than competitor focus, passion for invention, commitment to operational excellence, and long-term thinking. The Company presently maintains more than 380,000 employees at multiple facilities in North America and throughout the world. Due to the successful growth of the Company, it now requires a second corporate headquarters in North America. Amazon’s current headquarters is located in downtown Seattle, Washington. This urban campus employs tens of thousands of employees. Amazon has been a catalyst for development in downtown Seattle with an abundance of restaurants, services, coffee shops, and for the redevelopment of South Lake Union and Denny Triangle with its sustainable buildings and open spaces. In 2017, Amazon was awarded the “City Maker” award by the Downtown Seattle Association. Amazon estimates its investments in Seattle from 2010 through 2016 resulted in an additional $38 billion to the city’s economy – every dollar invested by Amazon in Seattle generated an additional $1.4 for the city’s economy overall. Find more information at: www.amazon.com/amazonHQ2. We look forward to working with you and your team to find a suitable site and establish a cost structure with a stable business climate for growth and innovation that would encourage Amazon to locate this high-profile Project in your community. In choosing the location for HQ2, Amazon has a preference for:  Metropolitan areas with more than one million people  A stable and business-friendly environment  Urban or suburban locations with the potential to attract and retain strong technical talent  Communities that think big and creatively when considering locations and real estate options HQ2 could be, but does not have to be:  An urban or downtown campus  A similar layout to Amazon’s Seattle campus  A development-prepped site. We want to encourage states/provinces and communities to think creatively for viable real estate options, while not negatively affecting our preferred timeline 2 PROJECT FACTS Employment: The Project is expected to create as many as fifty thousand (50,000) new full-time jobs with an average annual compensation exceeding one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000) per employee. We will begin sourcing for talent at Amazon HQ2 upon final site selection. Please note that the actual average wage rate may vary from the projected wage rate depending upon prevailing rates at the final location. Amazon also provides a highly competitive benefits package including a retirement plan, health insurance, and maternity/paternity leave, featuring Amazon’s Leave Share and Ramp Back program. All job numbers, categories, and salaries contained herein are estimates/projections and are subject to change. The jobs will likely be broken down into the following categories: executive/management, engineering with a preference for software development engineers (SDE), legal, accounting, and administrative. Amazon is an equal opportunity employer. Building/Site Requirements: Amazon is considering greenfield sites, infill sites, existing buildings, or a combination for the Project. If existing buildings are available that can be retrofitted/expanded within an acceptable budget and time schedule, Amazon may consider this option; however, the company acknowledges that existing buildings may not be available to meet its requirements. As such, Amazon will prioritize certified or shovel-ready greenfield sites and infill opportunities with appropriate infrastructure and ability to meet the Project’s timeline and development demands, as set forth below. The following is a summary of the Project’s ideal site and building requirements: Core Preferences Quantity Units Description Site Requirements Proximity to population center 30 Miles Proximity to International airport Within approx. 45 Minutes Proximity to major highways and arterial roads Not more than 1-2 Miles Close to major arterial roads to provide optimal access Access to mass transit At site Direct access to rail, train, subway/metro, bus routes Building Requirements Initial Square Foot Requirement 500,000+ Sq. Ft. Phase I (2019) Total Square Foot Requirement Up to 8,000,000 Sq. Ft. Beyond 2027 3 Details of Amazon’s Seattle headquarters: Amazon Seattle HQ Di r e c t 1 Number of buildings 33 Square feet 8.1 million Local retail within Amazon headquarters 24 restaurants/cafes + 8 other services Amazon Employees 40,000+ Capital investment (buildings & infrastructure) $3.7 billion Operational expenditures (utilities & maintenance) $1.4 billion Compensation to employees $25.7 billion Number of annual hotel nights by visiting Amazonians and guests 233,000 (2016) Amount paid into the city’s public transportation system as employees’ transportation benefit $43 million In d i r e c t 2 Additional jobs created in the city as a result of Amazon’s direct investments 53,000 Additional investments in the local economy as a result of Amazon’s direct investments $38 billion Increase in personal income by non-Amazon employees as a result of Amazon’s direct investments $17 billion Increase in Fortune 500 companies with engineering/R&D centers in Seattle From 7 in 2010 to 31 in 2017 1From 2010 (when Amazon moved its headquarters to downtown Seattle) to June 2017. 2From 2010-2016. Calculated using Input-Output methodology and multipliers developed by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis. Priority for Consideration (in no particular order): Amazon will consider the following site/building categories for the Project: 1. Existing buildings of at least 500,000+ sq. ft., meeting the core requirements described above and that are expandable or have additional options for development nearby. 2. A greenfield site of approximately 100 acres certified or pad ready, with utility infrastructure in place. The sites do not have to be contiguous, but should be in proximity to each other to foster a sense of place and be pedestrian-friendly. 3. Other infill, existing buildings, including opportunities for renovation/redevelopment and greenfield sites, meeting the proximity and logistics requirements of the Project. This can also be a combination of the above. 4 4. Please also consider the overall proximity of the buildings at full build-out as you are making recommendations. Capital Investment: The Project could be over $5 billion in capital investment over the initial 15-17 years of the Project. Please note the capital investment required to acquire and retrofit an existing building is dependent upon the condition and nature of that building. As such, the following capital investment estimates will vary depending upon site requirements and actual construction costs, particularly with respect to an existing building. Building Phase Estimated Capital Investment Phase I Building (500,000-1,000,000 sf) $300,000,000-$600,000,000 Phase II Building (1,000,000-2,000,000 sf) $600,000,000-$1,260,000,000 Phase III Building (2,000,000-3,000,000 sf) $1,260,000,000-$1,985,000,000 Phase IV and beyond will grow organically. At full build-out, the campus or park may exceed 8 million square feet and over $5 billion in total capital investment. Amazon will continue to invest in its facilities to ensure we offer a state-of-the-art workplace for our employees. States, provinces and metro economic development organizations should consider this as they suggest potential sites. Be sure to include opportunities to cultivate local culture and creativity into the Amazon HQ2 site. Also, include connectivity options: sidewalks, bike lanes, trams, metro, bus, light rail, train, and additional creative options to foster connectivity between buildings/facilities. Additional Information: Sustainability: Amazon is committed to sustainability efforts. Amazon’s buildings in its current Seattle campus are sustainable and energy-efficient. The buildings’ interiors feature salvaged and locally sourced woods, energy-efficient lighting, composting and recycling alternatives as well as public plazas and pockets of green space. Twenty of the buildings in our Seattle campus were built using LEED standards. Additionally, Amazon’s newest buildings use a ‘District Energy’ system that utilizes recycled heat from a nearby non-Amazon data center to heat millions of square feet of office space – a system that is about 4x more efficient than traditional heating. This system is designed to allow Amazon to warm just over 4 million square feet of office space on Amazon’s four-block campus, saving 80 million kilowatt-hours over 20 years, or about 4 million kilowatt-hours a year. We also invest in large solar and wind operations and were the largest corporate purchaser of renewable energy in the U.S. in 2016. Amazon will develop HQ2 with a dedication to sustainability. Connectivity: Ensuring optimal fiber connectivity is paramount at our HQ2 location. Please demonstrate the fiber connectivity on all submitted sites. Also, demonstrate multiple cellular phone coverage maps to ensure optimal service. 5 KEY PREFERENCES AND DECISION DRIVERS The below are our preferences and are not in a ranking order. We want to encourage you to think big and be creative as you are collaborating to respond. Please address the drivers discussed below in your RFP submittals. Site/Building – As described herein, finding suitable buildings/sites is of paramount importance. Amazon HQ2 is a transformational Project, and we must ensure we have the best real estate options available whether this be a redevelopment opportunity, a partnership with the state, province, local government, or new buildings. All options are under consideration. Capital and Operating Costs – A stable and business-friendly environment and tax structure will be high-priority considerations for the Project. Incentives offered by the state/province and local communities to offset initial capital outlay and ongoing operational costs will be significant factors in the decision-making process. Incentives – Identify incentive programs available for the Project at the state/province and local levels. Outline the type of incentive (i.e. land, site preparation, tax credits/exemptions, relocation grants, workforce grants, utility incentives/grants, permitting, and fee reductions) and the amount. The initial cost and ongoing cost of doing business are critical decision drivers. Labor Force – The Project includes significant employment requirements at the threshold compensation levels described herein and with corresponding educational attainment of the available workforce. The Project must be sufficiently close to a significant population center, such that it can fill the 50,000 estimated jobs that will be required over multiple years. A highly educated labor pool is critical and a strong university system is required. Logistics – Personnel travel and logistics needs, both from population centers to the Project site, as well as between company facilities, are critically important. As such, travel time to a major highway corridor and arterial roadway capacity potential are key factors. The highway corridors must provide direct access to significant population centers with eligible employment pools. Travel time to an international airport with daily direct flights to Seattle, New York, San Francisco/Bay Area, and Washington, D.C. is also an important consideration. Time to Operations – The Project requires an expeditious timetable for the location decision and the commencement of construction. Given this, sites with the requisite access, utility infrastructure, and zoning are critical. Please outline the permitting process and estimated timetable to initiate Phase I of our operations. Cultural Community Fit – The Project requires a compatible cultural and community environment for its long-term success. This includes the presence and support of a diverse population, excellent institutions of higher education, local government structure and elected officials eager and willing to work with the company, among other attributes. A stable and consistent business climate is important to Amazon. Please demonstrate characteristics of this in your response. We encourage testimonials from other large companies. Community/Quality of Life – The Project requires a significant number of employees. We want to invest in a community where our employees will enjoy living, recreational opportunities, educational opportunities, and an overall high quality of life. Tell us what is unique about your community. 6 INFORMATION REQUESTED 1. Please provide information regarding potential buildings/sites that meet the criteria described herein. Along with general site information, please provide the current ownership structure of the property, whether the state/province, or local governments control the property, the current zoning of the site, and the utility infrastructure present at the site. 2. Please provide a summary of total incentives offered for the Project by the state/province and local community. In this summary, please provide a brief description of the incentive item, the timing of incentive payment/realization, and a calculation of the incentive amount. Please describe any specific or unique eligibility requirements mandated by each incentive item. With respect to tax credits, please indicate whether credits are refundable, transferable, or may be carried forward for a specific period of time. If the incentive includes free or reduced land costs, include the mechanism and approvals that will be required. Please also include all timelines associated with the approvals of each incentive. We acknowledge a Project of this magnitude may require special incentive legislation in order for the state/province to achieve a competitive incentive proposal. As such, please indicate if any incentives or programs will require legislation or other approval methods. Ideally, your submittal includes a total value of incentives, including the specified benefit time period. 3. If any of the programs or incentives described in the summary of total incentives are uncertain or not guaranteed, please explain the factors that contribute to such uncertainty and estimate the approximate level of certainty. Please also describe any applicable claw backs or recapture provisions required for each incentive item. 4. Please provide a timetable for incentive approvals at the state/province and local levels, including any legislative approvals that may be required. 5. Please provide labor and wage rate information in the general job categories described. Please provide relevant labor pool information and your ability to attract talent regionally. Also, include specific opportunities to hire software development engineers and recurring sourcing opportunities for this type of employment. Please include all levels of talent available in the MSA, including executive talent and the ability to recruit talent to the area. 6. Please include programs/partnerships currently available and potential creative programs with higher education institutions in the region in your response. Please also include a list of universities and community colleges with relevant degrees and the number of students graduating with those degrees over the last three years. Additionally, include information on your local/regional K-12 education programs related to computer science. 7. Please provide highway, airport, and related travel and logistics information for all proposed sites. Please also include transit and transportation options for commuting employees living in the region. For each proposed site in your region, identify all transit options, including bike lanes and pedestrian access to the site(s). Also, list the ranking of traffic congestion for your community and/or region during peak commuting times. 7 8. Please include information on your community with respect to daily living, recreational opportunities, diversity of housing options, availability of housing near potential sites for HQ2, and pricing, among other information. Please also include relevant crime data and cost of living data. 9. Please use your response as an opportunity to present any additional items and intangible considerations with respect to your state/province and community that Amazon should include in its analysis. While the existence of the Project is not confidential, certain aspects of the Project and details regarding the company are confidential, proprietary, and constitute trade secrets. Amazon will deliver a Confidentiality and Non-Disclosure Agreement for execution at the appropriate time. Conclusion: As this is a competitive Project, Amazon welcomes the opportunity to engage with you in the creation of an incentive package, real estate opportunities, and cost structure to encourage the company’s location of the Project in your state/province. Please contact amazonhq2@amazon.com for questions while responding to this RFP. This RFP is only an invitation for proposals, the substance of which may be memorialized in a binding, definitive agreement or agreements if any proposal is selected. Amazon may select one or more proposals and negotiate with the parties submitting such proposals before making an award decision, or it may select no proposals and enter into no agreement. 1 Olson, Josh From:Joel Akason <info@greatermsp.org> Sent:Thursday, September 07, 2017 6:12 PM To:Olson, Josh Subject:Project HQ2 #710 Company Seeks New Headquarters Location If you're having trouble viewing this email, you may see it online. Today, Amazon announced that it is seeking a second North American headquarters location. Find out more about the project here. It is encouraging MSA’s, states, cities or counties with a population in excess of 1,000,000 residents to submit a response to its request for proposal (RFP). Amazon has requested only one response to the RFP per metro. Therefore, GREATER MSP is partnered with DEED to create a response to the RFP. . It can contain multiple real estate sites in more than one jurisdiction. This is an exciting opportunity for our region. Amazon has two operations in our region and has been a great employer to thousands of employees. We anticipate that will be true for this opportunity as well. The RFP states that the project is estimated to create as many as 50,000 new, full-time jobs with an average annual compensation exceeding $100,000. The positions will be added over a 10-15 year period. The project could be over $5 billion in capital investment over the initial 15- 17 years of the project. We believe the MSP region is uniquely positioned to succeed on this project for a number of reasons:  Strong existing workforce with a commitment to investing in future workforce  Robust corporate HQ infrastructure  Stable economy  Nationally leading airport  Strong quality-of-life for employees  Affordability relative to other large markets The ideal site and building requirements are: Core Preferences Quantity Description Site Requirements Proximity to population center Within 30 miles Proximity to International airport Within approximately 45 minutes Proximity to major highways and arterial roads Not more than 1-2 miles Close to major arterial roads to provide optimal access Access to mass transit At Site Direct access to rail, train, subway/metro, bus routes Building Requirements Initial Square Foot Requirement 500,000+ sq. ft. Phase 1 (2019) 2 Total Square Foot Requirement Up to 8,000,000 sq. ft. Beyond 2027 Priority for Consideration (in no particular order)  1.Existing buildings of 500,000+ sq. ft., meeting the core requirements and that are expandable or have additional options for development nearby.  2.Shovel-ready greenfield site of approximately 100 acres with utility infrastructure in place. Sites do not have to be contiguous, but should be in proximity to each other.  3.Other infill, existing buildings, including opportunities for renovation/redevelopment and greenfield sites. This can also be a combination of the above. Key Preferences and decision drivers:  1.Incentives offered by the state and local communities to offset initial capital outlay and ongoing operational costs will be significant factors in the decision-making process.  2.Identify incentive programs available for the project at the state and local levels. Outline the type of incentive (i.e. land, site preparation, tax credits/exemptions, relocation grants, workforce grants, utility incentives/grants, permitting, and fee reductions) and the amount. The initial cost and ongoing cost of doing business are critical decision drivers.  3.The project requires an expeditious timetable for the location decision and the commencement of construction. Given this, sites with the requisite access, utility infrastructure, and zoning are critical. Please outline the permitting process and estimated timetable to initiate Phase I of operations.  4.Ensuring optimal fiber connectivity is paramount. If you have any sites that meet Amazon’s specifications, please send them to Joel Akason by the end of day on September 22, 2017. Contact:  Joel Akason, Senior Director, Business Investment, GREATER MSP, joel.akason@greatermsp.org Media Relations and Communications  Mike Brown, VP, Marketing and Communications, GREATER MSP, mike.brown@greatermsp.org  Shane Delaney, Director, Communications, Minnesota DEED, shane.delaney@state.mn.gov For questions: please contact Joel Akason, GREATER MSP Director of Business Investment, at 651-287-5807 or joel.akason@greatermsp.org. Back to top ^ 3 ph:651.287.1300 toll free: 1.855.287.1300 e: info@greatermsp.org 400 Robert Street North Suite 1600 Saint Paul | MN 55101 This email was sent to josh.olson@co.ramsey.mn.us.To ensure that you continue receiving our emails, please add us to your address book or safe list. manage your preferences | opt out using TrueRemove®. Got this as a forward? Sign up to receive our future emails. Page 1 of 1 Joint Development Authority TCAAP Redevelopment Project DATE: September 13, 2017 TO: Joint Development Authority Board of Commissioners FROM: Sara Thatcher, Goff Public SUBJECT: Rice Creek Commons Communications Communications teams for Ramsey County, the City of Arden Hills, and Alatus continue to coordinate media requests. In August, Ramsey County announced the hiring of Louis Jambois to serve as the lead negotiator on behalf of the County. The following articles were published: • Former Port Authority chief Jambois will head giant Rice Creek Commons project for Ramsey County – Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal; August 22, 2017 • Ramsey County hires ex-Port Authority leader for Rice Creek Commons – Pioneer Press; August 22, 2017 • A welcome hand on the tiller – Pioneer Press editorial; September 7, 2017 Over the past several months, we have also received dozens of inquiries about residential housing and commercial properties through the website and are working with Alatus to maintain a list of people who have expressed interest in purchasing property at Rice Creek Commons. We will communicate with these people once we have more firm information about the development timeline. AGENDA ITEM 9 MEMORANDUM